Providing SOCOM with Dynamic Telecom Services
Background
The Project Manager, Defense Communications and Army Transmission Systems (PM DCATS) oversees the acquisition, installation, and support of worldwide telecommunications systems and interoperable operations centers. These systems include satellite and telecommunications equipment used by military departments (MILDEPs) and special users to transmit data, voice, and visual information throughout the world. In addition, PL DWTS/PM DCATS provides technical expertise to the Departments of State and Homeland Security, and other government agencies to support global telecommunications capabilities.
As the PM DCATS mission evolves and adapts to an ever-changing international, political, and geo-economic climate, effective engineering and network communications remains a critical enabler of the mission.
To this end, the Global Command Terrestrial Communications IV (GCTC) program provides forward-deployed worldwide U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) end-users with “cradle to grave” support for IT, mission, and command, control, computer, communications, and intelligence (C4I) systems, as well as system interfaces with other technologies and ancillary equipment, to meet real-world mission requirements.
Understanding the Need
The GCTC mission required an industry partner with deep program and customer knowledge to deliver agile, responsive solutions that meet the dynamic needs of SOCOM’s information network communications systems across geographically dispersed operations.
These solutions had to rapidly adapt to changing demands (the right information), where needed (the right place), and when needed (the right time), all while completely protecting information from interception and exploitation.
As the PM DCATS mission changed and GCTC requirements evolved, its industry partner also needed to have the flexibility and skills to support new mission needs without introducing risk or causing service disruption.
Our Solution
Since 2012, GovCIO (formerly Salient CRGT) has enabled SOCOM to meet today’s demands while preparing for tomorrow’s challenges by delivering full lifecycle global engineering, infrastructure, network communications system support for USSOCOM data, voice, SATCOM, and video systems. We provide 24x7x365 tactical systems support, including engineering, infrastructure, cyber security, and operations and maintenance (O&M), on over 25 classified and unclassified worldwide communications networks for the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and partner nations across the U.S., Southwest Asia, Europe, and Africa.
IT Infrastructure And Network Engineering Services
Using a mix of the latest modernized and legacy commercial equipment, GovCIO applies the Engineer, Furnish, Install, Secure, and Test (EFIS&T) method to design, develop, integrate, migrate, and sustain systems, applications, databases, and infrastructures for all command levels. This includes IP-based networks, networking architectures, LANs, WANs, the Internet, NIPRNet, SIPRNet, Asynchronous Transmission Mode, VoIP, JWICS, CENTRIXS, DRSN, DVSG, Battlefield Information Collection and Exploitation System (BICES), classified coalition partner networks, and tactical US military and NATO telecommunication networks.
We provide four GovCIO-owned, managed, operated, and maintained DKET/ XKAT SATCOM terminals, deploying them worldwide within six-hours’ notice to meet unplanned surge and emergent government SATCOM requirements to ensure achievement of USSOCOM’s mission. In addition, we support communications system services for surface and subsurface maritime vessels, including radio frequency and ground communications equipment and systems, yielding 99.99% availability for USSOCOM’s satellite network.
Our certified Video Teleconferencing (VTC) system installers, CCNP network engineers, and Cisco Unified Communications (UC) certified schedulers deliver highly sensitive global multi-classification VTC services for incredibly complex VTC suites on a 24x7x365 basis, ensuring the warfighter has the latest technologies.
Software Engineering
Employing rigorous agile processes with integrated DevOps and DevSecOps practices, GovCIO designs, develops, integrates, and implements complex enterprise IT ISR, C2, and C4ISR solutions. Our team migrated GCTC applications and services to the cloud, resulting in the ability to stand up 1000s of computing cycles within a few minutes. We leverage these cloud resources to conduct testing of upgrades for critical resource and better extend services to remote areas.
We support database operations (Oracle databases, SQL applications, etc.) and applications, application maintenance, and performance management, as well as the full range of web services software and utility products to allow for smooth integration of web services.
IT Service Desk Support
GovCIO provides 24x7x365 O&M services, including an IT service desk and Network Operations Center (NOC) that respond to end-user requests and service outages. We provide Tier 0-3 support for over 30,000 clients at a variety of CONUS and OCONUS locations including multiple OCONUS reginal regional communications centers, an OCONUS Systems Control Center (SYSCON), an OCONUS Network Support Engineering (NSE) cell, and a CONUS Network Operations Support Center (NOSC).
Our Tier 1 IT service desk responds to end-user requests and service outages 24x7x365. Employing an ITIL-based approach, we successfully respond to an average of 2,400 requests per month. Our Tier 2 personnel are systems experts, capable of swiftly and accurately providing critical support to tactical communications systems deployed in garrisoned, exercise, and contingency environments. They support traditional IT and non-traditional service desk support, ranging from guidance on how to appropriately operate fielded equipment and mission systems to complete set-up and tear-down of deployable tactical communications systems. We provide IT, VTC, AV, SATCOM, and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems support, which includes more than 19,000 tickets annually.
Cyber Security
GovCIO incorporates aggressive cyber security and Information Assurance (IA) procedures and applies the Risk Management Framework to enforce the GCTC enterprise IA posture. Our team maintains security and control in accordance with DoD 8750, AR25-2 and local governance, implements the latest network security measures, and develops comprehensive SSPs to ensure compliance.
We refine requirements for port security network architecture to prevent unauthorized access to USSOCOM networks and conduct testing, draft Technical Standard Operational (TSO) procedures, and upon approval implement IEE 802.1X security protocols to include the Cisco Identity Services Engine servers to create a more secure and centralized security management process.
Meet Our GCTC Team
Andre Green, GovCIO Vice President & GCTC Program Manager
Results
GovCIO’s staff of 120, which includes TS/SCI cleared personnel, is highly skilled to meet all SOCOM’s needs. We maintain the latest IT certifications, such as CCIE, CCNP, MCSE, NetApp certifications, A/V and Integrated Experience Association (AVIXA) Certified Technology Specialist (CTS), and BICSI.
Collectively, this enables us to successfully support 300+ servers, 30,000+ laptops/desktops, eight OCONUS datacenters, 200+ crypto devices, 5,000 routers and switches, 25 SIPRNET/ NIPRNET /TS /SCI /coalition partner classified networks, and over 10,000 users/workstations across the various OCONUS locations. Our AV/VTC team supports 4000 VTCs monthly and at any given time our engineering team supports at least 10 special projects/15 subprojects.
Our expertise in exploiting technical advancements and developing new IT concepts has significantly improved enterprise network and system support at CONUS and OCONUS locations across more than 40 permanent, mobile, airborne, and waterborne sites. For instance, our team:
- Updated an enterprise SATCOM communication network. Within 30 days we designed an improved enterprise network architecture. Within 90 days we deployed additional terminals and implemented new commercial modems that took advantage of available military frequencies to provide additional communication throughput with minimal long-term costs.
- Uses a lab to replicate installation site conditions and conduct operational stress testing for complex integration efforts, resulting in a 30% reduction of on-site installation time and ensuring 100% integration and installation success.
- Successfully responds to an average of 2,400 requests per month.
- Ensures continuous support for services and coverage mands and maintaining 99.99+% uptime.
- Uses Agile management practices to execute all development activities, increasing productivity by 25% while reducing time to respond by 50%.
- Migrated all applications and services to the cloud, allowing the program to replicate the entire enterprise within 10 minutes. GCTC cloud services give our engineers the ability extend services to remote areas and closer to geographically dispersed customers.
- Established and maintain an integrated supply chain system in Iraq and Afghanistan to provide rapid response for maintenance support requirements for assets in theater.